Holder for wrenches and the like



Nov. 3, 1931. c. vALLoNE 1,830,577

` HOLDER FOR WRENCHES AND THE LIKE Filed Feb. 25. 192s Patented Nov. 3, 1931 e r N CHARLES VALLON-"E, OE' BUFFALG, NEVI YORK, ASSIGNOR TO BARCALD MANUFACTUR- ING COl'alsNY, GF BUFFALO, NEW YORK n HOLDER FOR WRENCIES ND THE LIKE Application filed February 23,19%. Serial No. 256,204.

This invention relates to improvements in holders for tools and the like, such as wrenches, and more particularly to an improved holder for a set ofopen end wrenches of the sort having a. shank or handle provided at opposite ends with rigid jaws for engaging nuts or bolts.

One object of the invention is to provide a holder which is of simple and inexpensive construction and composed of the minimum :t: holder number of parts, and is adapted to hold a set or plurality of wrenches or analogous tools in an orderly, convenient and compact arrangement, enabling any one or more of the tools to be removed from the holder and replaced without disturbing the others.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a holder of the sort mentioned, which consists of a body or main member formed from a single met-al plate, and a single-piece retaining member movably connected to the body and adapted to be releasably secured in toolholding position; and. also to provide a holder for wrenches and analogous devices having the other features of improvement and advantage hereinafter described and set forth in the claims.

in the accompanying drawings:

embodying my invention and showing a set of wrenches in place in the holder. e

Fig. 2 is a similar view of the body of the holder, the wrenches being removed and a portion only of the hasp or cover being shown.

Fig. 3 is an end elevation of the holder showing' the hasp in the open position.

Fig. 4 is a top or side View of the holder with` the hasp or cover in closed position.'

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section of the holder on line Fig, l.

Fig. 6 isa transverse section of the holder and wrenches on line {3*6, Fig. 1.

'ilc bolder comprises a or, dy 10 and ay movable cover or tool-retaining member 11 which is preferably hinged at one end to one side of the body of the holder and adapted to be releasably secured in a pesition overlying or across the shanks of the tools so as to retain the same on the body.

The body is preferably made from a single 1 is a front view or elevation of a plate or stamping of sheet metal which is bent or formed to provide side walls 12 and 13 at the opposite side edges of the body plate and extending forwardly from the body plate perpendicularly thereto, and spaced lingers 14 projecting forwardly from the end portions of the body plate, thereby providing seats between the spaced fingers 14 tween the fingers and side walls in which the Shanks of the tools 15 are adapted to be seated.

Different sized wrenches of the open end type are usually made of different lengths, the slianlrs being graduated in length in accordance with the variations in size of the heads or jaws of the wrenches, and because of this difference in lengths of the shanks of the wrenches, the ends of the body plate of the holder preferably converge from one side of the holder toward the other, or the spaced lingers 1a are arranged in converging stepped series, or that is, with each pair of fingers nearer together than the next adjacent pair. The wrenches are adapted to be placed in the holder, as shown in the drawingspwith the shank of each. wrench seated in two seats formed at the opposite ends of the body by the fingers 14:, and because of their stepped arrangement, the lingersfor each wrench are adapted to engage the wrench shank at or adjacent the shoulders at the inner ends of the heads or jaws of the wrench so that notwithstanding the different lengths of the wrenches, each wrench is thus "held from shifting endwise-in the holder by engagement of said shoulders with two opposite fingers of the holder. f

The cover or retaining member 11 which is hinged to one side wall of thebodv, for instance, the wall 12 thereof, is adapted to extend acrossV the Shanksr of the several wrenches in the holder, as shown in Figs. 1 and 6,- and when secured in this position will prevent the displacement of the wrenches from between the fingers of the holder. As shown, the cover or retainerll is hinged to the wall 12 byproviding an integral hinge tongue or loop 15a on `one end of the retainer, which extends loosely through a slot near the upper or forward edge of the wall 12, and the free or opposite end of the reand betively narrow, can be made from the lettV over metal pieces remaining when cutting out the body plates. The retainer could be ot any other suitable construction adapting it to be releasably fastened-in closed position.

Thewrenches are retained inthe seats be- Y tween the lingers'kl by the cover or retainer 11` when the latter is closed, and the wrenches are thus prevented from movinglaterally either parallel with the plane ot the body plate or outwardly away from the body plate, and the disposition ofthe fingers at the shoulders or inner portions ot the 'heads or end enlargements of the wrenches'prevents endwise shitting oit the wrenches in the holder. FIt will be seen that the lingers form in effect a. series ot spaced longitudinal seats positively holding the tools in parallel spaced relation.` F or reasons oit economy inthe use of stock .the seats are thus formed bythe ingers, but obviously other'torms'ot projecting parts forming longitudinal seats for this purpose could be substituted `for the fingers, it desired.

r Iclaim as my invention:

1. A holder for a set ot' tools each having a shankand spaced enlargements, said holder comprising a body having spaced forwardly opening seats in each of which the Vshank ot one of said tools is'removably seated with the toolsarranged side by side and-said enlargements projecting lbeyond the` ends 'of said seatsl a retaining member which eX- tends across the shanks of saidtools at the open sides 'of said seats to retain said tools in said seats, and which is releasably securedfto said body and is operable lto permit removal n of said tools from said holder, yand said holder having parts engaging said tool enlargements to prevent lengthwise movements thereof, relatively to said holder.

2. A holder for a setof relatively elongated tools, said holder comprising aplate having integral VAforwardly projecting` spaced portions forming a series of spaced'seats in each of which one of saidtools is removably seated, said portions being'arranged to abut portions otsaid tools to prevent substantial lengthwise move-ment of the tools in the holder, and a retaining member movably connected to a' portion of saidplate', so as to extend across said tools to' retain themV in said seats and which 1s releasably lsecured to said plate in retainingV position and is movable to permit the removal of said tools from said holder.

3. A holder for a set of tools having Shanks of graduated lengths and opposite end enlargements, said holder comprising a body having-a series ot parts forming spaced forwardly opening seats in which said tool shanks are removably seated with the tools arranged side by side, said parts havingtheir opposite ends arranged in' converging orderv and engageable with the end enlargements of said tools tor preventing substantial endwise Ymovement of said tools in said seats, `and means t'or retaining said tools in vsaid seatslandwhich is releasable to permit removal of said tools from said holder.

:i wrench set unit, vcomprising a plurality'orq wrenches stacked side by side; and binder means extending about said wrenches; said binder means and said wrenches 4having interabntting means for preventing any substantial relative longitudinal movement in either direction between saidbin'der means and said wrenches; whereby said wrenches are held both against separa-tion and against shitting; said binder means nowever having a port-ion lhinged .and1openable, to Apermit ready removal andA replacement of said wrenches; and latch means for holdingsaid portion closed.

A 'rench set unit,comprising: a plurality ot wrenches `each provided at eachfend with; an enlargement, and each having also a shank vextendingbetween its said enlargements connecting said enlargements, said wrenches `being stacked side by side; 'and binder;1neans Yextending about said -shanks and of a span oppositefeach'wrench substantially equal 4to the distance between thev said enlargementsnot'that said wrench, whereby said wrenches are maintainedso stacked kheld against bot-h separatiomand shit-ting; -said binder means however having one of its sides `alongside the stacked wrenches hinged and openablepto permit ready removal and repl'acementof any of said wrenches.

'- 6. 'A wrench set unit, comprising: a plurality of wrenches stacked side Vby side: binder `means extending about-said wrenches,said binder means and said wrenches intera'butting to prevent any substantialrelative longitudinalmovement between said binder means and fsai-d wrenches, whereby said wrenches are held against both separation and shiftingand' spacer meansassociated with said binder meansl andextendin'g between adjacent wrenches. Y

T A'wreneh set unit, comprising a pluralityot wrenches each providedat each 'end withv an enlargement, and eacn having also a shank `extending between its 'said enlargements connecting said enlargements, said wrenches being assembled `side by side; bindor means extending about'said shanls and oit ger kan

a span opposite each wrench substantially equal to the dista-nce between the said enlargements of that said wrench,` whereby said wrenches are maintained so assembled held against both separationand shifting; andl spacer m-.ins asseciated with said binder means and extending between adjacent wrenches` said binder means having a side alongside said wrenches hinged and openable, whereby any of said wrenches may readily be removed or replaced.

` 8. wrench set unit, comprising a plurality of wrenches stacked side by side, and binder means extending about said wrenches, said binder means and said wrenches having interanitting means for preventing any substantial relative longitudinal movement in either direction between said binder-means d said wrenches, whereby said wrenches are held both against separation and against shifting, said binder means however having a releasable portion which extends across the several wrenches of the stack and retains them in place but is cpenable to permit removal and replacement of said wrenches,'any of the wrenches being removable without displacing the. remaining wrenches when said portion is opened.

9. n wrench set unit, comprising a plurality of wrenches each providedat each end with an enlargement, and each having also a shank extending between its said enlargements connecting said enlargements, said wrenches being stacked side by side, and biniler means extending about said shanlrs and ot' a span opposite each wrench substantially equal to the distance between the said enlargements of that said wrench, whereby saidwrenches are maintained so stacked held against both separation and shifting, said binder means however having a releasably held hinged side which extends across the several wrenches of the stack and retains them in place but is openable to permit removal and replacement of said wrenches, any oi' the wrenches being removable without displacing t-he remaining wrenches when said hinged side is opened.

i0. EL wrench set unit comprising a plurality of wrenches stacked side by side, binder means extending about said wrenches, said binder means and said wrenches inter-abutting to pre-vent any substantial relative longitudinal movement between said binder means and said wrenches, whereby said wrenches are held against both separation and shifting, spacer means associated with said binder means and extending between adacent wrenches, said binder means having a releasable portion which extends across the several spaces between said spacer means and retains the several wrenches in place, but openablc to permit remov'al and replacement of said wrenches, any of said wrenches being removable withoutdisplacing the remaining wrenches when said portion is opened.

ll. A wrench set unit comprising a pluf rality of wrenches arranged side by side, and a holder extending about said wrenches and holding them against separation, said holder comprising a body open at one side and having seats facing said open side in which the wrenches are separately seated, and an openable member which crosses said open side and retains the wrenches in said seats, said holder and wrenches interabutting to prevent substantial longitudinal movement ot the wrenches in the holder, any of the wrenches being removable from the holder without displacing the remaining wrenches when said openable member is opened.

l2. A wrench set unit comprising a set of wrenches each having opposite end enlargements and a connecting shank,and a holder in which the wrenches are arranged side by side and which extends about the shanks of the wrenches between their enlargen'ients and has portions adapted to engage said enlargements toprevent substantial shifting of the wrenches lengthwise in said holder whereby the wrenches are held against both separation and vlengthwise shifting, said holder being readily openable to permit removal and replacement oi the wrenches and having fastening' means for releasably retaining the holder closed about the wrenches.

l 13. A wrench set unit, comprising a plurality of wrenches each provided at each end with an enlargement and with a shank connecting` said enlargements, said shanks varying in length, and saidwrenches being assembled side by side, and binder means extending closely about said Shanks and being of a span opposite each wrench substantially equal to the distance between the said enlargements oi that said wrench, whereby said `wrenches are maintained so assembled and held against both separation and longitudinal shifting, said binder means however being readilyopenable to permit removal and replacement of saidwrenc-hes.

14. A wrench set unit, comprising a plurality of wrenches stacked side by side, bind` er means extending about said wrenches and holding said wrenches so stacked, and spacer means associated with said binder means and extending between adjacent wrenches, said binder means having a side alongside said wrenches hinged and openable, whereby any of said wrenches may be readily removed or replaced withoutV displacing` the remaining wrenches.

15. A holder for a set of wrenches a1'- ranged side by side, said holder being adapted to extend about and hold said wrenches from separation and comprising` a body in which the wrenches are positioned and which is open at one side, and an openable member which crosses said open side and retains the wrenches in said body against separation, saidholder having .portions arranged to abut portions of the wrenches to prevent substantial longitudinal shifting of the wrenches inthe holder, any of said wrenches lbeing removable through said open' side of -tliebody without displacing the remaining wrenches when said member is opened.

A holder for a set of wrenches assembled side by side and each having opposite end enlargements and a connecting shank, said holder' being adapted to extend about the shanks or the wrenches between said end enlargements and hold said wrenches from separation, and having portions adapted to engage said end enlargements to 'prevent substantial shifting of the wrenches lengthwiser in said holder whereby the wrenches are held against both separation and lengthwise shift-V ing,' said holder being readily openable to permit removal and replacement of the wrenches, and said wrenches being disposed ini the .holder sothat when the holder is opened, any of thewrenches can be removed without displacing the remaining wrenches.

l?. A tool holder or' the character described comprising a body provided at opposite end portions with 'spaced fingers projecting for-V wardly from the body and forming between them open seats arranged in pairs at opposite end portions or' the holder in which the tools are adapted to be independently and removably seated side by side, and a retain ing member releasably secured to said body in a position crossing said tools so as to prevent displacement or the tools from said seats eX cept when said retaining member is released', said holder and tools having interabutting parts whichprevent substantial longitudinal shifting of said tools in said holder.

18. A tool holder of the character described comprising a bodyprovided at opposite end portions thereof with forwardly opening spaced seats in which tools having opposite end enlargements and connecting Shanks are adapted to be removably seatedfside by side with the enlargements `disposed adjacent the ends otsaid seats whereby the tools are prevented from lengthwise displacement by vthe engagement of said enlargements with said seats, and a retaining vmember for said tools releasably secured in a position crossing and bearing against the tools located in the seats soV as to prevent displacement of the tools from the seats except vwhen said retaining member is released.

'19. A tool holder of the character described comprising a body provided with converging series or1 `forwardly projecting lingers arranged in stepped order and forming open seats in which a set of tools of graduated lengths and having end enlargements and connecting shanks vare adapted to be removably seated, with the end enlargements arranged. to engage said ngers to prevent lontherefor.

lgitudinal displacementv of the tools in the holder, and a retaining member for said tools releasablysecured in a position crossing and bearing against the tools located in the seats soas to prevent 4displacement of the tools from Athe `seatsexcept when said retaining member is released.

4:20. A wrench set unit comprising a set of wrenches of graduated lengths each having oppositeend enlargements and a connecting shank, and a holder comprising a plate formed 'with integral forwardly projecting spaced :ngers between which the Shanks of said wrenches are removably seated with the wrenches'arranged side by side, said holder having portions which engage the enlarged ends of the wrenches Vto prevent substantial shifting fof the wrenches lengthwise :in said seats, :and Vsaidiholder lhaving means which releasably hold said wrenches seated between said fingers 'but permit Vany of the wrenches to 'be removed fromthe holder without displacing the :remaining wrenches.

21..A wrench setV unit comprising a plurality of wrenches each having. enlargements at opposite'ends and arranged side r'by side, said wrenches beingfofidirferent sizes and also arranged in order of size, and holding means for suchwrenches which holds the wrenches in said'arrangement against -separation iand includes aV member having divergent :portions disposed between the enlargements of said wrenchesand operating to preventshifting thereof in' opposite directions through interabutment of the enlargements of said wrenches therewith, and spacing means projecting laterally of said member and extending between said wrenches and forming'seats Y lCHARLES VALLONE. 

